Sand retention system

Abstract

A method of building up and maintaining beach sediment, building and changing beach profiles, and controlling beach erosion that uses a series of varying diameter plastic pipes joined to obtain various lengths, laid parallel and on top of each other and situated perpendicular or at various angles to the shoreline. The pipes act to slow bottom currents and promote sand accretion in and around the pipes thereby stabilizing shoreline profiles and controlling beach erosion. The pipes are held together by cables or in a “cradle” to help stabilize the pipes on the sea bottom. Certain pipes have pre-drilled holes of various diameters through their sidewalls to allow in-flow of sand-carrying water such that the pipes become filled with sand acting to stabilize the pipes. Pipe diameter sizes are selected as necessary to accomplish most efficient sediment accumulation around the pipe structures.

I claim: 
     
       1. A sand retention system for underwater installation along the near-shore profile of a body of water having a multiplicity of connected members comprising:
 a series of synthetic tubular members interconnected to lie parallel or on top of each other on the seafloor of the body of water and perpendicular to the shore line, 
 the tubular members having holes of various sizes drilled in the sidewalls adapted to receive self-filling sand accumulation into the interior, 
 the tubular members having connection means to hold the tubular members together end-to-end or in parallel groups to help stabilize the tubular members on the sea bottom, 
 the tubular members being of varying diameters to accommodate efficient arrangement to achieve sand accumulation adjacent to the members, 
 the tubular members having a lifting system incorporated in their design, the lifting system being selected from the group comprising hooks, ropes, turnbuckles, straps or woven wires of sufficient strength to support said tubular members in lifting tension; 
 wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles or multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
 
     
     
       2. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       3. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water at an angle to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       4. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore and buried into a geographic structure on the beach above the high-water mark so as to hide the tubular members and add stability to the dry land-based end. 
     
     
       5. The sand retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular members are constructed of plastic pipe material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or polystyrene. 
     
     
       6. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular members are laid out on flat mats on the bottom of the body of water wherein said mats are selected from the group comprising used carpet material, plastic material or woven polypropylene. 
     
     
       7. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein certain selected lengths of said tubular members are connected end-to-end and in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and are sealed air-tight by sealing means to allow said certain selected lengths to act as floatation devices for all or a portion of the length of tubular members. 
     
     
       8. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular members are secured to the dry land shore end by anchoring means and to the underwater termination end by anchoring means on the bottom of the body of water at a point offshore. 
     
     
       9. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 8  wherein said anchoring means is straps surrounding stacked pipes and placed in rigid or non-rigid cradles. 
     
     
       10. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 8  wherein said anchoring means is selected from the group comprising piling made of wood, concrete or sand-filled synthetic pipe. 
     
     
       11. A sand retention system for underwater installation along the near-shore profile of a body of water having a multiplicity of connected members comprising:
 a series of synthetic tubular members interconnected to lie parallel or on top of each other on the seafloor of the body of water and perpendicular to the shore line, 
 the tubular members having holes of various sizes drilled in the sidewalls adapted to receive self-filling sand accumulation into the interior, 
 the tubular members having connection means to hold the tubular members together end-to-end or in parallel groups to help stabilize the said tubular members on the sea bottom, 
 the tubular members being of varying diameters to accommodate efficient arrangement to achieve sand accumulation adjacent to the members, 
 the tubular members having a lifting system incorporated in their design, the lifting system being selected from the group comprising hooks, ropes, turnbuckles, straps or woven wires of sufficient strength to support said tubular members in lifting tension; 
 wherein said tubular members are laid out on flat mats on the bottom of the body of water wherein said mats are selected from the group comprising used carpet material, plastic material or woven polypropylene. 
 
     
     
       12. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       13. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water at an angle to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       14. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       15. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore and buried into a geographic structure on the beach above the high-water mark so as to hide the tubular members and add stability to the dry land-based end. 
     
     
       16. The sand retention system of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular members are constructed of plastic pipe material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or polystyrene. 
     
     
       17. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein certain selected lengths of said tubular members are connected end-to-end and in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and are sealed air-tight by sealing means to allow said certain selected lengths to act as floatation devices for all or a portion of the length of tubular members. 
     
     
       18. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 11  wherein said tubular members are secured to the dry land shore end by anchoring means and to the underwater termination end by anchoring means on the bottom of the body of water at a point offshore. 
     
     
       19. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 18  wherein said anchoring means is straps surrounding stacked pipes and placed in rigid or non-rigid cradles. 
     
     
       20. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 18  wherein said anchoring means is selected from the group comprising piling made of wood, concrete or sand-filled synthetic pipe. 
     
     
       21. A sand retention system for underwater installation along the near-shore profile of a body of water having a multiplicity of connected members comprising:
 a series of synthetic tubular members interconnected to lie parallel or on top of each other on the seafloor of the body of water and perpendicular to the shore line, 
 the tubular members having holes of various sizes drilled in the sidewalls adapted to receive self-filling sand accumulation into the interior, 
 the tubular members having connection means to hold the tubular members together end-to-end or in parallel groups to help stabilize the tubular members on the sea bottom, 
 the tubular members being of varying diameters to accommodate efficient arrangement to achieve sand accumulation adjacent to the members, 
 the tubular members having a lifting system incorporated in their design, the lifting system being selected from the group comprising hooks, ropes, turnbuckles, straps or woven wires of sufficient strength to support said tubular members in lifting tension; 
 wherein certain selected lengths of said tubular members are connected end-to-end and in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and are sealed air-tight by sealing means to allow said certain selected lengths to act as floatation devices for all or a portion of the length of tubular members. 
 
     
     
       22. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       23. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water at an angle to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       24. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       25. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore and buried into a geographic structure on the beach above the high-water mark so as to hide the tubular members and add stability to the dry land-based end. 
     
     
       26. The sand retention system of  claim 21 , wherein the tubular members are constructed of plastic pipe material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or polystyrene. 
     
     
       27. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are laid out on flat mats on the bottom of the body of water wherein said mats are selected from the group comprising used carpet material, plastic material or woven polypropylene. 
     
     
       28. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said tubular members are secured to the dry land shore end by anchoring means and to the underwater termination end by anchoring means on the bottom of the body of water at a point offshore. 
     
     
       29. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 28  wherein said anchoring means is straps surrounding stacked pipes and placed in rigid or non-rigid cradles. 
     
     
       30. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 28  wherein said anchoring means is selected from the group comprising piling made of wood, concrete or sand-filled synthetic pipe. 
     
     
       31. A sand retention system for underwater installation along the near-shore profile of a body of water having a multiplicity of connected members comprising:
 a series of synthetic tubular members interconnected to lie parallel or on top of each other on the seafloor of the body of water and perpendicular to the shore line, 
 the tubular members having holes of various sizes drilled in the sidewalls adapted to receive self-filling sand accumulation into the interior, 
 the tubular members having connection means to hold the tubular members together end-to-end or in parallel groups to help stabilize the tubular members on the sea bottom, 
 the tubular members being of varying diameters to accommodate efficient arrangement to achieve sand accumulation adjacent to the members, 
 the tubular members having a lifting system incorporated in their design, the lifting system being selected from the group comprising hooks, ropes, turnbuckles, straps or woven wires of sufficient strength to support said tubular members in lifting tension; 
 wherein said tubular members are secured to the dry land shore end by anchoring means and to the underwater termination end by anchoring means on the bottom of the body of water at a point offshore; and 
 said anchoring means is straps surrounding stacked pipes and placed in rigid or non-rigid cradles. 
 
     
     
       32. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       33. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end with cable connection means in a single strand and laid out on the bottom of the body of water at an angle to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       34. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore. 
     
     
       35. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said tubular members are connected end-to-end in a single strand or in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and laid out in preinstalled cradle means on the bottom of the body of water at an angle or perpendicular to the shore from a point on the shore to a point offshore and buried into a geographic structure on the beach above the high-water mark so as to hide the tubular members and add stability to the dry land-based end. 
     
     
       36. The sand retention system of  claim 31 , wherein the tubular members are constructed of plastic pipe material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or polystyrene. 
     
     
       37. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said tubular members are laid out on flat mats on the bottom of the body of water wherein said mats are selected from the group comprising used carpet material, plastic material or woven polypropylene. 
     
     
       38. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein certain selected lengths of said tubular members are connected end-to-end and in bundles of multiple, parallel members, with cable connection means and are sealed air-tight by sealing means to allow said certain selected lengths to act as floatation devices for all or a portion of the length of tubular members. 
     
     
       39. The sand retention system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said anchoring means is selected from the group comprising piling made of wood, concrete or sand-filled synthetic pipe.